I’ve supplied photos of two commercial vehicles used by Hike, Bike Kayak on Avenida de la Playa that are parked on the streets of the Shores every day and are used to store kayaks that do not fit within their business locations. Not only do these vehicles constitute blight on our neighborhood, but their use as overflow storage is not permitted by applicable provisions of the municipal code.

Moreover, these vehicles are only a small part of the fleet of at least 10 additional dirty, rusty, sand-filled work vehicles used by kayak merchants in the conduct of their business that are also parked on the streets of the Shores every day.

None of the kayak companies operating in the Shores pay for sufficient space to conduct their business within their locations and all rely on public areas to support their businesses — whether that be parking work vehicles on the street, storing kayaks in vehicles parked on the street, assembling tour groups on the sidewalk or in the park, etc.

Enough is enough. At a minimum, the residents of the Shores should not be subjected to these two eyesores parked daily in our neighborhood. More broadly, I question why the residents of the Shores should be expected to continue to subsidize these businesses by allowing them to operate in a manner that produces so many negative externalities on the neighborhood. The work vehicles, the failure to rent adequate space to conduct their business, all of it, are simply economic choices made by these business owners to increase their profits.

This is particularly absurd, given that kayak rental generally is not a permitted use within the provisions of the La Jolla Shores Planned District Ordinance and there is no possible way to construe the kayak business as currently conducted in the Shores as being consistent with the stated goals of the La Jolla Shores Planned District. Although my short-term goal is to remove these two particular vehicles from our neighborhood, I also want to shine a light on these businesses and how they affect our neighborhood. The ultimate goal is to force these operators to complete the noticed, public process required by the La Jolla Shores Planned District Ordinance. We need to formally amend the permitted uses in the Shores Commercial Zone to include the kayak rental business as a condition to their continued operation in the Shores Commercial Zone.

— Reuben Rosen, La Jolla Shores

• Editor’s Note:

La Jolla Light

reporter Ashley Mackin looked into the situation and spoke with the owner of Hike Bike Kayak, David Teafatiller. Acknowledging the problem, Teafatiller said it causes him equal frustration because this is the second time his truck has been vandalized, causing him expense and aggravation to clean it with a chemical solution that loosens the paint, making it easier to remove.

Teafatiller said the first time his truck was vandalized, he called the police, who said there was nothing they could do unless the vandal was caught in the act. The second time it happened, business was so brisk, busy staff could not clean the truck for two weeks.

Furthermore, Teafatiller said his truck has had the air taken out of its tires and eggs thrown at it, and that anonymous notes have been left on the windshield telling him to move the truck.

Teafatiller explained that the truck is used for loading and unloading kayaks to transport to the beach. Acknowleding the limited parking in the Shores, he said he must leave the truck wherever there is a space available near his business.

Teafatiller requested that before an upset community member leaves a note, he or she come speak with him in person about their concerns.

Similarly, Chris Lynch, co-owner of Everyday California (formerly OEX) has also experienced forms of “tampering” with his vehicles. In the past, Lynch said, people have left dead fish in the back of the company long-bed Chevy truck, which is used to transport kayaks. Lynch said his personal truck, which has the company logo on the side, was egged earlier this week.

However, Lynch said he does not face the same Hike Bike Kayak parking issues because his new location comes with parking for vehicles. Lynch said he hopes the community will come to appreciate the businesses and clients they bring to the Shores, and he’s hopeful the vandalism across the board, will stop.

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Fellow La Jollans:

Please send

La Jolla Light

your leads of Village eyesores and we will go after the perpetrators. E-mail the scenarios and attach a photo, or call us and we’ll investigate who or what is